New to the forum, am I buying the right gun?

[themayer78]

I am not new to guns or shooting but I have never owned a handgun before. In about 2 weeks I will be buying my first handgun. I have shot Glocks, XDs, the Beretta Cougar, a Kimber TLE 1911, Beretta 92, Walther PPK/S .380, blah blah blah. So I have shot a variety of guns and calibers. I hope I never have a reason to shoot anything but a target at the range but the purpose of my first gun will be home defense and I plan to get my CC license so I will want to be able to carry it also. I have 99% settled on the XD45 Compact-4".

What do you guys think? My cousin has the XD45 4" service model and he suggests I go with the XD .357 Sig. I am pretty settled on defending my home with .45 cal. I believe him when he tells me the .357sig obliterates chickens but I don't think I will be defending my home from chickens. And I don't think I even really want a round that travels 3x as fast as a .45 but I don't know, I have never shot a .357sig.

So my questions are

1) For home/personal defense what do you think of .45acp vs. .357sig?
2) For home defense as well as a CCW what do you think of the 4" XD45 Compact? Any other .45acp autos (OR .357sig if that's what you suggest) I should look at before I buy?

I feel good about this gun but I would love to hear any suggestions or input before I buy it.


Thanks,
Ben

[JeffWard]

Either would be great for self defense. Either will stop anyone, anywhere, anytime, with proper bullet placement.

BOTH are expensive to feed, as the ammo for 45 and 357 Sig are a bit pricy.

I love my XD45 Service. I'd love it more if I'd opted for the Compact version for CC. That said, I carry the XD9SC almost daily, and love it too. And I'd trust it any day for defense. The 3" subcompact is easier to conceal, and more comfortable to wear sitting, with the 3" barrel.


The 9mm is almost half as expensive to shoot a lot. And practice is what will improve bullet placement, and bullet placement is what will save your life, not caliber.

That said, either XD will tear ragged holes in paper at defense distances.

Jeff

[neophyte]

themayer78: Sir; XD45 is an outstanding weapon. You will be able to go into about any country store and purchase ammo. .357sig dosn't have that availability.
Sir; practice and practice. Get very very comfortable with your firearm.

It'll not hurt one thing to shoot others before you purchase.

There is this thing called ?fitting you?. You'll pick up one and it just seems to ?fit?
Add to your "home" defense a shotgun. Read 'bump in the night' thread.

follow up with your experiences

[PhilR.]

Question 1: Both calibers are commonly used for defense purposes, so it doesn't matter which one you choose as far as how they will work. As Jeff said, bullet placement is more important than caliber.

Q 2: Nothing wrong with the XD45. It will do what you want.


PhilR.

[TOF]

Why ruin a perfectly good .40 cal case by necking it down. The .40 is every bit as effective as either 357 Sig or .45ACP, if not more so and less expensive to shoot.

I would go for either 9MM or .40S&W.

[Baldy]

I am not new to guns or shooting but I have never owned a handgun before. In about 2 weeks I will be buying my first handgun. I have shot Glocks, XDs, the Beretta Cougar, a Kimber TLE 1911, Beretta 92, Walther PPK/S .380, blah blah blah. So I have shot a variety of guns and calibers. I hope I never have a reason to shoot anything but a target at the range but the purpose of my first gun will be home defense and I plan to get my CC license so I will want to be able to carry it also. I have 99% settled on the XD45 Compact-4".

What do you guys think? My cousin has the XD45 4" service model and he suggests I go with the XD .357 Sig. I am pretty settled on defending my home with .45 cal. I believe him when he tells me the .357sig obliterates chickens but I don't think I will be defending my home from chickens. And I don't think I even really want a round that travels 3x as fast as a .45 but I don't know, I have never shot a .357sig.

So my questions are

1) For home/personal defense what do you think of .45acp vs. .357sig?
2) For home defense as well as a CCW what do you think of the 4" XD45 Compact? Any other .45acp autos (OR .357sig if that's what you suggest) I should look at before I buy?

I feel good about this gun but I would love to hear any suggestions or input before I buy it.


Thanks,
Ben

You say you are about 99% settled on the XD-.45 then that's the one you should get and don't look back. Practice, and more practice from 7 to 10yds should do the job for defense in the home. Good luck.

[Joeshwa24]

I have an XD .40 Service model and I love it, one of my close friends has an XD-45 Comp and its also super nice so you I guess as far as the model; you cant go wrong with an XD. I wouldnt get the .357sig simply becasue of avalibility it can be hard to find and when you do find it, it can be expensive.

[Shipwreck]

I think 9mm is fine (and has less recoil and is cheaper) - but if you prefer the 45 ACP, go for it. Just be aware of the cost.

I wouldn't go with 357 sig, though.

I may get jumped on for saying it - but it is still a bit of a niche cartridge, like the 45 GAP and the 10mm. 9mm, 40 cal and 45 ACP is so easy to find everywhere.

[themayer78]

Thanks for all the replies you guys. I'm going for it. I know .45acp will cost more to shoot at the range but I really don't think this will be my last gun and I feel strong enough about having a .45 that I am willing to pay the difference in range ammo until I can afford the HK P30. Or maybe the XD9SC? I'll cross that second bridge later.

OK, now that I have chiseled that decision in stone... I will be wanting to get night sights for the XD.
What do you guys think about TruGlo? Any other night sights I should look at?
From what I have read and heard I don't think I want to shoot anything at the range but FMJ in brass casings. IYO's is this reasonable or an unnecessary standard?
I can buy Fiocci Brass w/ copper FMJ for $15-$16 per box of 50 at a local gun retailer (or 1000 for $280).
Can you buy ammo online and have it shipped? If so can I get a better price than this/where is the best place to do that?

Thanks again
Ben

PS - will work for ammo

[gmaske]

As long as you are over the age of 18 you can buy ammo on the net. How they check to see if you're really 18 is beyond me I've bought a few boxs from http://www.midwayusa.com/ but I've found stuff locally that was just as cheap. Check your local Wal-Mart as they seem to be the low price most of the time. I'm a .45 fan myself. I've been buying a lot of the Magtech 230gr. because it is cheap and it shoots very clean. I've run about 100 rounds through with no powder fouling at all.

Does anybody know off hand what the street price is on an XD45 Compact?

[PhilR.]

From what I have read and heard I don't think I want to shoot anything at the range but FMJ in brass casings. IYO's is this reasonable or an unnecessary standard?
I can buy Fiocci Brass w/ copper FMJ for $15-$16 per box of 50 at a local gun retailer (or 1000 for $280).
Can you buy ammo online and have it shipped? If so can I get a better price than this/where is the best place to do that?

I think that is an unnecessary standard. If aluminum-cased ammo such as Blazer or perhaps a hollow-point round works, why limit yourself?

I will occasionally buy online from Sportsman's Guide. Their specials can sometimes be the lowest prices around, even cheaper than the local Academy, and that's when shipping is factored in. Natchez can have some good prices as well, including Blazer .45acp for about $10.99. I think their web site is www.natchezss.com

PhilR.

[gmaske]

I think that is an unnecessary standard. If aluminum-cased ammo such as Blazer or perhaps a hollow-point round works, why limit yourself?

I will occasionally buy online from Sportsman's Guide. Their specials can sometimes be the lowest prices around, even cheaper than the local Academy, and that's when shipping is factored in. Natchez can have some good prices as well, including Blazer .45acp for about $10.99. I think their web site is www.natchezss.com

PhilR.

Thanks for the link! Good prices!! I only buy brass because I reload so I'll pass on the aluminum but dang that is cheap! If I have to do any shooting for my CCL class I might pick up a box. Knowing me, after the class it will be....ah sir do you mind if I stay after and pick up the brass?

[themayer78]

The best retail price I have found on an XD45Compact 4" is $500.00.

I'm really not inclined to shoot Blazer b/c I have read several reports about very inconsistent lots. As far as aluminum casings go-I have a friend who had them break when fired, I would hate to end up with alum fragments in my gun. He also said they were so light they would fly back at his face when ejected. And last but not least the only reason I would think FMJ would be better at the range is I would think it would cost less than JHP.

Just my .02 and rationale as to why I'm thinking brass FMJ would be my best bet at the range. As for at home I will definitely be keeping a mag or 2 of something like +P CorBon JHP.

That's all I got for now.
Ben

[nelskc]

If you are getting a Springfield XD, why not go with a a tactical rail laser/light combo, like the Streamlight TLR2. Thats why your new gun has one, eh. The only problem that i have found with night sights, is that in dim conditions or bright sunny days they just don't pop out like white dot XD sights. But if your set, I like trijicon, supposedly have a long life. Check out there site; www.trijicon.com

Good Luck

[themayer78]

Well, I'm not in a huge hurry to mount something to the rail. I know thats what its for but then I will have to get a new holster and a light or laser will reveal my position in the dark. The night sights I have my eye on are TroGlo TFO's. They are Tritium AND Fiber Optic, seems like they will do well in day and night.